"We are now digital-first and we believe our content is valuable. We had a hard paywall similar to The Times. Now we have a meter model which provides us with far better data on our subscribers.

"We have a direct relationship with the reader. Even running tea meetings where we sit down with them."

Christie said too many journalists and editors still considered stories in a print context, laying out pages in their heads. She said this had to change and pointed to Fast FT, the news organisation's 24-hour breaking news service.